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2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. E. SMITH.

} GAS GENERATOR. No. 340,634. Patented Apr. 2'7, 1886.

WITNESSES y i gg} .gw/QMW w 21,5 :tlttorneys (No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

J. E. SMITH.

GAS GENERATOR.

No. 340,634. Patented Apr. 27, 1886.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFEIcE.

JAMES E. SMITH, OF NE\V YORK, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-EIGHTHS TO A. W. LE FURGE AND FRANCIS BUOKLEY, BOTH OF BROOKLYN, N. Y.

GAS-GENERATOR.

EPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,634, dated April 27,1886.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JAMES E. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gas-Generators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

Myinvention has relation to improvements :0 in gas-generators; and the novelty consists in the peculiar construction and combination, arrangement, and adaptation of the various parts, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth,and specifically pointed out in the claims.

I have shown an embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation of my improved generator, showing the connections with a supply-tank and the regulating-valves. Fig.

2 is a transverse cross-sectional view through the water chamber and the oil or mixing chamber. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the oil-chamber supply-valve; and Fig. t is a sectional elevation through the water-chamber regulating-valve. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal central section through the retort or mixing chamber. Fig. 6 is a plan View of the oilvalve.

Like letters of reference in the several drawings denote corresponding parts.

' Referring to the drawings, A designates my improved generator. B designates an elevated supply-tank, and G designates the connections between said generator and tank.

The generator A consists, essentially, of two chambers, D E, one of which, D, constitutes the water and steam chamber, and the other chamber, E, the oil and mixing chamber or retort. These chambers are preferably 40 rectangular in form and are of different sizes,

the water-chamber D being larger than the oil chamber or retort E; but these forms and proportions may be varied without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advan- 5 tages of my invention. The chambers are also preferably arranged alongside of or parallel with each other, and are fixed or secured upon a base-plate, F.

The water chamber is provided with a threaded socket, a, in one of its end walls, in

which is screwed the end of a pipe, C, connecting at its opposite end with the supplytank B, the said socket being preferably arranged near the lower end of one of the end walls of the chamber D, as shown.

The two chambers D E are connected together by means of a pipe, b, or other wellknown device, arranged near the upper edges of said chambers, and near one end thereof, as shown, thus providing for the admission of steam. which is generated in the water-charm ber D, into the oil or mixing chamber E.

The oil chamber or retort E is provided with a seat or socket, 6, having an interior thread for the reception of one end of the sup- 6 ply-pipe 0 connected with the tank B.

In Fig. l of the drawings I have shown the tank B as divided by a vertical partition-wall,

B, to provide two chambers, B B, for the reception of oil and water, respectively; but I would have it understood that I do not wish to limit myself to the particular form of supply-tank herein shown, as two separate and independent tanks for the oil and water may be employed, or a tank ofother construction.

The oil-chamber E has aseries of partitions or dividing-walls, E, and arranged in an inclined position in the following manner: The upper or first wall is arranged a short distance from the top of the chamber and immediately '80 beneath the supply-port 6, said partition extending in an inclined position longitudinally of the chamber toa point ashort distance from the opposite end wall, to which it is secured or formed integral therewith. This peculiar $5 arrangement of the first or upper partition provides alongitudinal passage, f, and ashort vertical opening or passage, f, at the end, between the terminal end of the first or upper partition and the end wall of the chamber. 0 The second partition, E, is inclined in an opposite direction to the first or upper partition, and extends longitudinally of the chamber beneath said upper partition and from the end wall opposite to which said upper partition starts, thus bringing the lower end of said second partition a short distance below the front end ofthe upper partition and from the opposite end wall to which it starts. The remaining partitions E are arranged in a similar rco manner with relation to each other and the chamber or receptacle, said partitions being inclinedin opposite directions from each other, terminating ashort distance from opposite end Walls of said chamber, and arranged beneath each other and longitudinally of the chamber from the side walls thereof, thus providing the passages f f, which communicate with each other and permit the free mingling of the two gases arising from the generation of steam and carbon gas.

In practice I prefer to cast the oil chamber or retort with the dividing-partitions to form or provide the lines, and I have found by experiment that the following arrangement and proportions have given good results: The up per or first partition is arranged one-l1alt an inch from the upper wall of the chamber, and then inclined downwardly toward its opposite end, so that it will fall one inch from the upper wall of the chamber, thus giving a drop or incline of one-half an inch. The elevated end of the next or succeeding partition is arranged one inch from the upper wall and on the plane of terminal end of the upper partition, and then inclined forwardly, so that its terminal end will be one inch from the elevated end of the first or upper partition, or one inch and a half from the upper wall of the chamber, and so on with the remaining partitions. In the drawings 1 have shown five of such partitions arranged beneath each other and in the manner described; but I would have it understood that the proportion and number of partitions can be varied to suitthe capacity and size of the apparatus withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

By the peculiar arrangement of partitions heretofore described I secure fines or passages of alternate widths, one end thereof being enlarged and the opposite end contracted to perhaps half the diameter of the larger expanded end. This arrangement of fines causes the gases to become thoroughly commingled and mixed by reason ofthe tortuous passagethrough which they traverse, and by reason of the ex panded and contracted ends of the lines the gases are caused to expand and contract when passing along one flue and into the next adjacent flue, as will be very readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings.

By the enlarged and contracted ends of the longitudinal flues the two gases-steam and carbon gas--are caused to alternately expand and contract, and by reason of such expansion and contraction the two gases are thoroughly and intimately mixed and commingled together when passing through the fines of the generator. The inner or adjacent wall of the oil-chamber to the water-chamber is provided with a perforation or a series of perforations at its bottom to permit the gas to escape from the mixing-chamber, or the oil from the reservoir and chamber to flow out upon the base plate, the latter operation being performed to heat the two chambers to a high degree to generate the steam in the water-chamber and the carbon-gas in the oil-chamber from the water and oil respectively.

I have shown the water-chamber D as elevated above the bottom or base plate on flanges gg, arranged at each end thereof, thus permitting the oil from the oil or mixing chamber to flow beneath the said water-chamber, and when said oil is ignited by dropping a lighted match onto the surface thereof the heat arising from its combustion will elevate the temperature of such chambers and base-plate to a very high degree to consume the oil flowing into said oil-chamber and' con vert the water in the chambcr D into steam. As soon as the steam is generated it passes from the Water-chamber D into the mixing-chamber through the connecting-pipe and commingles with the carbon gas in said mixing-chamber in the manner hereinbefore described and flows onto the baseplate, where it may be consumed to heat said base-plate, or conducted by pipes or other means for illuminating purposes.

By heating the mixing-chamber to a very high degree and causing the two gases to traverse the tortuous and extended passages in the fines, the dividing-walls of which are also heated, the steam from the water-chamber is heated to a very high degree by impinging against the heated walls and partitions of the retort while passing through the same, and by reason of the gases from the oil and steam bein g in contactth rough out their passage through the retort they are intimately commingled and provide a hydrocarbon gas for consumption by the time that it escapes from the mixingchamber.

My improved gas-generating apparatus is especially adapted for use as a means for heating water, cooking food, and other like domestic purposes, and for apartment-heating; but it can be used with equal advantages in a great variety of ways.

In Figs. 3 and 6 of the drawings I have shown a valve especially adapted for use in connection with the supply-pipe to the oilchamber and tank of the apparatus, and in Fig. 4 a regulating-valve is shown for use in connection with the water-chambers, the pe culiar construct-ion and arrangement of the various parts of which are as follows:

The regulatingvalve H to the oil-chamber comprises a shell, H, preferably tapering in form, and having educt and supply ports h h, arranged on opposite sides of the shell, and one below the other, said ports having bosses h, provided with threads, in which the sections of the supply-pipes are connected. The plug H is also made tapering in form, and is rotatively secured or mounted in the shell, the lower end thereof having a shoulder, h and an internal screw-threaded portion, h in which works a bolt, 2', adapted to hold the plug in position, a washer, '1 being interposed between the bolt 2' and the lower end of the shell. The belt bears against the washer, which impinges against the shell, and said washer IOO ' of different diameters, to permit the oil to generator or chamber D, italso descends in the rotates with the plug when it is turned in the shell, to permit a supply of oil to flow from the supply tank to the combustion or oil chamber E.

The plug H is provided with a longitudinal central bore, j, and at its lower and upper ends opposite to the supply and exit ports it is provided with transverse bores j j j", the lower of which, 7'', is of larger diameter than either of the upper bores, fj, which are also flow into the supply-pipe C to the oil or mix ing chamber in different quantities. stance, when the larger bore J is turned to coincide wit-h the exit-port ofthe shell, a larger quantity of oil will pass through the same from the tank and central longitudinal bore of the plug, and when said plug is turned so that the smaller passage or bore coincides with the exit-port a reduced or smaller quan tity of oil is fed to the oil or mixing chamber. The head of the plug projects above the case, and is squared, as at l, for the reception of a turning-wrench or other implement, and the said head is provided with iudicatingnotches J, one of which is longer than the other, so that when the plug is turned to bring one of the notches in alignment with the supply-pipe to the oil-chamber the length of that notch will indicate whether the oil is flowing through the larger or smaller of the bores or passages j j An important result gained by this peculiar- ]y-constructed valve H is that the quantity of oil can be easily and readily governed and the pressure of the oil in the tank is taken off the oil or mixing chamber pipes and thrown upon the valve itself, the escape-passages of which are of a very small diameter, and the plug of considerable length and of sufiicient strength to insure stability.

K designates the water supply-regulating l valve, which is designed to operate automaticall y to feed the proper quantity of water to the water-chamber when the water therein has fallen below thclevel. The valve comprises a casing, K, preferably cylindrical in form and having heads k, the lower one of which is threaded at its periphery and removably secured in threaded surfaces of the cylinder, as shown in Fig. l. The removable head is provided on its under surface with a threaded 1 neck or socket, is, having a vertical aperture or passage, ki which is made tapering, and through this opening or seat passes a valverod, Z, also made tapering to fit the seat k'fiand having at its lower end a disk or valve, Z, '1

. where it emerges from the seat k with a float,

m, preferably of cork or other suitable material and rigidly secured thereon. The cyl inder is provided in one of its vertical walls with a supply pipe and port which commuui For incates with the water chamber 1). The upper cylinder-head may have an air-port, as shown at 0.

M designates an elbow and valve-chamber having interior-threaded portions or arms,one of which engages with the threaded neck is of the cylinder or shell head, whilethe other arm is connected to the supply'pipe to the waterchamber of the tank B or other supply, as will be readily understood. \Vhen the water falls or descends below the water-line in the steam pipe 0 and permits the valve, its rod, and the float to descend and the water to pass from the water chamber or cylinder until the proper quantity has been fed to the water-chamber D and the float rests on the lower cylinder-head.

An important result is accomplished by constructing the valve and rod as described, namely: the proper supply of water is automatically fed to the water-chamber when the water descends below a given line. All leakage of water is prevented from the cylinder by reason of the tapering valverod and its seat and the valve-disk impinging against the outer face of the neck as is obvious. The valve may have an elastic ring or packing, 12, arranged to bear against the neck k, as is ob VlOL'lS.

The operation of myinvention is as follows: Vhen it is desired to heat the chambers, a supply of oil is allowed to pass from the oil tank or reservoir by turning the plug 'of the valve so that it can pass through the pipe into the oil chamber and flow through the same on the inclined partitions thereof into the chamber or base-plate through the apertures in the side wall of said oil-chamber. Alighted match is then dropped onto the surface of the oil,which ignites and heats the oil and water chambers i to a very high degree, water having been first admitted or always remaining in the waterchamber. The water is converted into steam, and a supply of oil is admitted to the oil-chamber in a proper quantity, and is there converted into carbon gas and commiugles with the steam flowing into said oil-chamber. The gases are th us thoroughly and intimately mixed and commingled in the mixing chamber in the manner hercinbefore described, and the steam is at the same time reduced from a wet state to a highly elastic and dry state.

The apparatus is simple, strong, and durable in construct-ion, thoroughly effective and automatic in operation, and is cheap of manufacture.

Any quality or degree ofany kind of oil can be used, some with perhaps better results, and I find by experiment that four gallons of water are consumed to one gallon of oil.

Having thus fully'described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a gas-generator, a mixing-chamber having a series of longitudinal partitions arranged in inclined alternate directions,a steamgenerating chamber, connections between said chambers, a heating-base, a supply-tanl ,pipes connecting chambers and tank, an automatic supply-valve in the Water-supply pipe, and a regulating-valve in the oil-supply pipe, substantially as described.

2. In a gas-generator, the eombinatiomwith the steam and mixing chambers, of a supply tank and pipe and an automatic supply-valve comprising a shell, a valve-rod working in a tapered seat, a valve-disk mounted thereon, a float, and an elbow connected to the valve-seat, all arranged and adapted to serve as described.

3. In a gas-generator, and in combination with the steam and mixing-chambers thereof, a tank, a supply-pipe to the mixing chamber or retort, anda valve, H, in the retort-supply pipe and comprising a shell having educt and exit ports in different planes, a plug having a longitudinal bore and provided with transverse bores leading from the longitudinal bore to the eduet and exit ports of the shell or casing, as set forth.

4. In a gas-generator, the combination ofa retort comprising an elongated casing or shell and longitudinal partitions arranged in horizontal planes and alternately inclined positions, a Water-chamber having a steam-space, a heating base or plate on which the retort and chamber are mounted, a tank having oil and water chambers, supply-pipes leading from the chambers of the tank to the waterchamher and the retort, the supply-pipe to the said retort entering the same at one end of the upper flue thereof. a connecting-pipe from the steam-space of the water-chamber and entering the retort near the point of the oil-eduet port, an automatic valve in the water-supply pipe, and a regulating-valve in the oi1-supply pipe, all arranged to serve substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES E. SMITH.

\Vitnesses:

JOHN H. SIGGERS, \VM. N. MOORE. 

